ALER and Guinea-Bissau strengthen cooperation to implement the National Energy Policy
ALER met with Mohamadú Saido Baldé, Director-General of Energy of Guinea-Bissau, and Muhamede Salum Seidi, Diplomat at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Communities of Guinea-Bissau, to review the latest developments in the country's energy sector and identify priorities for future cooperation.
The meeting focused on the progress of the National Energy Policy (NEP), which is expected to be approved by the Council of Ministers shortly, following the national validation process and the support provided by ALER during its development. The NEP aims to guide the transformation of Guinea-Bissau's energy sector and strengthen its contribution to the country's sustainable and inclusive development.
The preparation of Guinea-Bissau's Energy Compact under the Mission 300 (M300) initiative was also discussed. The Compact will be developed with the support of ALER. Both parties highlighted the importance of ensuring alignment between this instrument and the forthcoming National Energy Policy, as well as its coherence with other national strategic instruments that have recently been approved or are undergoing public validation, such as the National Development Plan 2026-2035 (NDP), the National Adaptation Plan (NAP), and the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC).
The meeting also covered the next steps for implementing both the NEP and the Energy Compact, including communication activities, financing mobilisation, and the potential organisation of a High-Level Ministerial Roundtable dedicated to the energy sector. In addition, the discussion focused on key reforms and projects currently underway in Guinea-Bissau, such as the revision of the legal framework for the energy sector, the establishment of the electricity sector regulator, the update of the Electricity Sector Master Plan, and initiatives to expand energy access.
The meeting also provided an opportunity to discuss the upcoming tenders for two solar power plants with capacities of 40 MW and 10 MW, whose promotion among potential investors and financiers was supported by ALER during AEF 2026.
Against the backdrop of significant transformations in Guinea-Bissau's energy sector, ALER reaffirmed its commitment to continuing to support initiatives that strengthen legal certainty, regulatory transparency, the identification of priority projects, and investment attraction. According to the Tracking SDG7: The Energy Progress Report 2026, Guinea-Bissau recorded an electricity access rate of 43.7% in 2024, while access to clean cooking solutions stood at just 2.1%, highlighting the importance of the ongoing reforms to accelerate the country's energy development.